Canelo Alvarez & James Kirkland Media Interview

Oscar De La Hoya
Thank you very much to all the press. We are excited to be on this conference call. We are more than just a little over a couple weeks away with Canelo-Kirkland which will be a 12-round super welterweight showdown. It would be and it should be an explosive night, one to remember, live from Minute Maid Park in Houston. Tickets are going extremely well. Tickets are still available, so I urge you to get your tickets fast as we expect a sellout crowd.

I am extremely proud to be announcing that this event is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions and SMS Promotions and Leija Battah Promotions. I want to thank the sponsors as well: Corona Extra and Mexico-Live it to Believe it, Fred Loya Insurance and also O’Reilly Auto Parts. Thank you for your support.

At this moment, I would like to introduce to you one of our partners at Golden Boy Promotions. He is the President of Leija Battah Promotions. Let me introduce to you Mike Battah.

Mike Battah
Thank you. I also want to thank the press for joining us today. We’re looking forward to a mega fight, a historical event in Houston on May 9th. You can’t miss it. I want to thank everybody for the people who purchased tickets, and it’s going to be an exciting event, and I’d also like to let the press know that my partner, Jesse James Leija, his son will be doing his pro debut fight on May 9th as well, and it’s going to be something to see. So, thank you. Thank you, fans. Thank you, Oscar and Golden Boy for letting us have an opportunity to partner with you.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you, Mike. Let me also introduce to you one fighter that doesn’t need no introduction. He is a boxing legend and a founder of Leija Battah Promotions; let me introduce to you to say a few words, Jesse James Leija.

Jesse James Leija
Thank you, Oscar, and to all the press and to the fans and the people listening, thank you very much for your work and thank you for your dedication to the sport of boxing, which I believe is one of the best sports in the world. It’s a true sport where it’s a man on man and you fight with your gloves on and the best man wins, and I think that the best man’s going to win on this night, May 9th at Minute Maid Park. We have two fighters that can end the fight with one punch. You have one fighter who’s super strong who can knock anybody out at any given moment in James Kirkland, and then you have a technician in boxing like you do in Canelo. It’s going to be a fight of whose will is going to overcome the other.

I’m excited for the fight. I’m excited for the fans. I’m excited for the sport of boxing, and I am excited my son will be making his pro debut too on the card with Canelo and Kirkland, and he’s doing it under Golden Boy Promotions and Leija Battah Promotions. I’m excited about the whole thing. It’s a great night for Texas. It’s a great night for boxing.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you. Thank you very much, Jesse. So,now to introduce to you Team Kirkland. It is my pleasure to be working with such a professional and a man that needs no introduction the world over. He is the Chairman and CEO of SMS Promotions. Let me introduce to you, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
I want to start by saying I’m really excited about this event on May 9th. Getting into the sport of boxing and initially my relationship with Floyd Mayweather is what brought me and James Kirkland together, and the excitement connected to this fight will clearly be, I believe, the most exciting fight of the year, it has the makings of the most exciting. It would hands down been considered the most exciting fight of the year if they hadn’t made the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather event, and it’s just because they’re so long anticipated that they think that between the two of them you’re going to see what the sport of boxing has to offer right now.

So, between May 2nd and May 9th, this is it right here, and the excitement of seeing James prepare himself in a faster time period than I’ve seen him prepare before, it obviously shows how much is on the line for this actual fight, and you’re definitely going to see the best version of James Kirkland come May 9th. So, I’m excited to introduce you guys to his trainer, Bay-Bay McClinton.

Bay-Bay McClinton
Hello, everyone. How are you doing? The time is coming close for May the 9th. I’m not going to stay on long, but just like I told everybody, Houston, we got a big ‘ole problem on May the 9th. That’s all I got to say. Everybody, be excited for this fight.

C. Jackson
So, now I’d like to introduce everyone to James Kirkland.

James Kirkland
Hey. What’s going on, everybody? I’m just overwhelmed, and I just want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and SMS Promotions. I want to thank all the leaders, Oscar La Hoya and the people that’s actually there for me that they grind into sand and all the support teams that’s really been there from day one pushing and being the motivating people that I need for the fight. By supporting my transition and working and doing everything that I need to do to take care of business May 9. So, I’m eager for the opportunity and I’m more than I’m ready for May 9 to take place. Like I say, once again, man, promos, I want to give thanks to God for this opportunity and the leaders and the boxers in boxing.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much, ’50,’ and thank you very much, James. I just want to point out to you that we have a long day of fights beginning at 11 a.m. Central Time. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time, and tickets are still available. You can get tickets from $10 all the way to $350 for a ringside seat. So, now we can open it up for questions for James Kirkland.

Q
Thank you very much. Hello, everybody. Hey, James, it’s good to talk to you today. My first question for you is could you explain to us what is the reason why you haven’t fought since that big victory you had against Glen Tapia in 2013. You’ve been out almost a year-or more than a year and a half.

J. Kirkland
Basically, I was just getting prepared for an opportunity like this, and at the same time, I wanted to learn a lot of stuff about boxing that I didn’t know. It just goes on into a lot of different things, but most definitely I’m prepared and I’m thankful for this opportunity.

Q
During that period of time where you were not boxing, while you were, like you said, learning about I guess the business side, were you disappointed that you did not get a fight in that course of time to follow up on that good victory, make a good payday, get some more exposure, etc.?

J. Kirkland
Most definitely, but I can’t cry over spilled milk. But one thing I can say is that the things that I have learned and the course that actually take place is actually a positive thing and never did I actually stop being in the gym and stop working. So, I’m always hands-on in the gym and participating in any way.

Q
My other question for you is there’s been a lot of discussion among fans anyway that say boy, why would James Kirkland after the sorts of success he has had split again from Ann Wolfe, his trainer, who you two have done good things together because when you were not with her the last time was when you suffered your only defeat. What is the reason why you’re not training with Ann for this fight?

J. Kirkland
One of the reasons is that I just have to put out there is that the techniques and the things that I need to work on, to be able to win the fight, the strategies are what I have taken away when I was with Ann Wolfe. So, I know a lot of the fans, say, ‘you won, you had so much success with Ann’ and I know and understand this but at the same time, I know there was a lot more to the table that I needed to bring. I needed to harden, create more determination and I will eagerly take advantage of my opponent. You can’t take that away from me. Before I met Ann, that’s always been me, but when I need more-I thought that I needed more to bring to the table than something that I already have and possess. So, that’s what made me move on and I feel it is a smart decision.

Q
Okay. So, who will be your head trainer for this fight then, or who is your head trainer in your camp?

J. Kirkland: Rick Morones.

Q
Hi, thank you. I’ve got a question for James. It’s kind of like the last question. You’ve been out of the ring since 2013, and you have not gone past ten rounds in your career. Are you prepared to go 12 rounds, or is your plan to try to end it early?

J. Kirkland
My plan is if it was scheduled for 20 rounds, I’m going to preparate myself and make sure I can go 30 rounds. So, therefore, if it ends early, it ends early, but most definitely, I plan on it being an action-packed fight. So, anything is going to be able to happen in this fight. It can be the first round, the second round, it can even be the 12th round. So, whatever amount of rounds that it takes for this particular fight, I’m willing to go all the way. I’m willing to cut it in half. I’m ready to take it in the first or second round. So, it doesn’t really matter just long as I put the work in and do what I possess in training.

Q
Hey, James. You said the reason you took this fight was to-because you saw something in Canelo’s style that you thought you could-made you believe you could beat him. What was that? What did you see in his style that gave you the confidence that you could beat this guy?

J. Kirkland
Man, I don’t even know how to respond to your question. I would love to say something like next, but I’m like how can I respond to that? I’m a fighter. So, if I see something and it’s something that may be a plus for me is what I see. So, therefore, I’m going to take that information that I feel that is a plus and use it when it comes May 9th.

Q
Well, I know you feel like you can knock him out. Do you think you have the power necessary to knock Canelo out?

J. Kirkland
I definitely feel that I have the power, the will, the confidence, the speed and the heart and determination. I feel like I have the whole package. People wants to say that, ‘oh, Kirkland got suspect all the fights’ that I had, I took one loss, which I really didn’t take training camp serious. I didn’t look at it as being 100% focused. It was in Vegas and I was having a good time, and like I say, I really didn’t take it 100%, and now, since I actually took that defeat, I’ve been preparating myself and putting myself in a position so that now that when it comes May 9th, I can let it all be shown.

Q
We ran into you in Vegas a few years ago and you saw Canelo and you told me, “I want that guy.” Now that it’s here, how exciting is this for you and how big an opportunity is this to get to that world championship you’ve been chasing for years?

J. Kirkland
Man, it’s just-this is one of the opportunities, like I say, I’ve been wanting. So, since the layoff and they end up came knocking at the door and I answered and I went straight to it and said hey, this is a must, dude, this is a fight that I know the fans wants to see. It’s a fight that I’m truly prepared for. At the same time, man, like you said, I’ve definitely been prepared to make things happen and believe this is my opportunity.

Q
As far as the city of Austin, not hugely known for boxing, but people like Jesus Chavez and Ann Wolfe and yourself could put it on the map, how big would it be for you to become the third world champions held from this city?

J. Kirkland
It’s definitely that’s been something part of a dream. I’ve been wanting an opportunity. It felt like it’s been slipping from my hand for so long and it continued to slip and continued to slip, but I felt like at this opportunity there’s going to bring it to the point that that’s going to be the next thing popping or it’s going to be knocking at the door at this particular fight.

Q
One more question, James. I know it hasn’t been an easy road for you, layoffs, going to jail and getting out and starting back over. Do you look at this as your last big chance to climb that mountain and win a championship?

J. Kirkland
I definitely feel like I got a lot to lose putting on the table. I feel like there’s a lot that’s been involved in this. So, I can elaborate and keep going on and on about the situation and how much it means to me, but this is something that has been destined for me to take care of business when it come May 9th, and I feel like I got the right team with me, backing me and supporting me, and working on things that I need to do to take care of things May 9th.

Q
Hey, good afternoon, champ. This is Steve from Houston, Texas. Thanks for your time today. Over the past five to six years, you’ve had some great matchups with Joel Julio, Alfredo Angulo. So, far, what has been your biggest victory, and how will your victory over Canelo Alvarez overcome that victory that you’ve had in the past?

J. Kirkland: Man, I can’t even say what fight was one of my biggest victories. I can say Alfredo Angulo, I can say Joel Julio, I can name a few of them, but overall, just me being able to go to these training camps and preparation for is one of the major victories and actually being able to devour my opponent and get the W is something that I feel that that is the victory, but at the end of the day, man, I’m really focused and been training and taking care of the things that I need to take care of so when fight nights take place it’s going to be sensational.

Q
That’s great. And one of the things that really makes this matchup so interesting is the fact that both guys have a common opponent which is Alfredo Angulo. You faced Angulo arguably when he was at a much better state than when Canelo did. It took you only six rounds to defeat Angulo whereas it took Canelo over ten rounds. Is that any indication of really the type of mental fortitude and force that you can bring to this fight, and is that something that Canelo Alvarez will be able to handle?

J. Kirkland
One thing I can say is that the preparation for that fight was great and we worked really hard as far as in training camp, but I can say this-this training camp that I actually had here that I’ve been in and involved in has been harder than that particular training camp. So, when it actually say questionably like Alfredo Angulo, was he on top at the time that I fought him and was he a lot better a fighter? I can still say that he’s an awesome fighter, and a lot of great things can happen with him if someone was to do right by him, but overall, I feel that when it comes fight night, I will be a lot sharper, a lot more, at that particular point that night, but a lot more of everything involved. So, it’s going to definitely be like what people say a must watch, a fight fans want to see type of fight.

Q
Right. And one last question, James-you’re a Texas native, and for some reason Canelo Alvarez is the favorite. You’re sort of being perceived as the underdog here arguably in your backyard. To the fans that don’t know who James Kirkland is, what can you tell them that will be the biggest threat to Canelo Alvarez and that will get you the victory?

J. Kirkland
I can just tell people this when they ask about boxing and what can I bring to the sport or how I picture myself: I am a force of nature that overrides a lot of the people that I fight. When they come with heart, I believe my heart is bigger than that. When they come with determination, I don’t feel no one has the will power and the drive that I possess. When it come to speed, I don’t feel as if the opponent is going to be able to adapt, and if they do, there is something else I bring outside and it’s something else that they can do, and I always got a step on top of step above my opponent. That’s how I actually feel. So, I feel when they ask about it, it’s going to be a fight that you don’t have to worry about if they’re going to run, if this person’s going to be dodging and ducking and looking for somewhere to run and hide and tuck tail, me and Canelo will meet in the middle of the ring and that’s where the fight will take place, and we may stay there the whole entire fight if he’s going to come to fight like I’m coming to fight, that will be that particular fight that fans want to see.

Q
Hello, James. How are you? I wanted to ask you a question about your next fight. Canelo has already agreed to fight Miguel Cotto for the middleweight championship if he wins. Would you like to inherit that place if you win? Would you like to fight Miguel Cotto next, or what are your plans for after this fight?

J. Kirkland
I definitely would like to fight Miguel Cotta because I know that just as well as everybody on this fight, and they want to see this happen, at the same time, a lot of fight fans are speaking about what was the, likelihood of Kirkland and Miguel Cotto fighting, and that is something that I had on my radar just as much as Alvarez has. Because I know that he’s a fighter, he brings the fight and he wants to come just as well as Canelo Alvarez does. So, we’re all three the same type of fighters, and we all definitely want the same thing, the victory and the win and we all got heart. So, do I want to fight somebody just like me who got the same type of drive as me? I would love that opportunity and I don’t know why everybody is speaking about a fight before a fight because like they say, anything can happen in a fight, and my preparations for the fight is definitely taking the right course and preparating for the fight and for the victory.

Q
Does it bother you that Canelo has already agreed to fight even though he has a fight with you, a very difficult fight with you ahead of him? Does it make a difference in your mindset?

J. Kirkland
I just feel that maybe this fight and they’re overlooking at it like okay, this is going to be a walkthrough or one of those type of fight, first, second round type ordeals that they can make happen, and I appreciate the-I love the motivation, I love the heart and courage that is going to be one of those type of nights, but I definitely feel it’s going to be on the other side of the table if the shoe was on the other foot. So, at the end of the day, man, it’s easy to say, man, I don’t like talk boxing, I just do it. So, overall, I’m just prepared for May 9th to take place.

Q
Hey, James. You said a few weeks ago that you’re already on weight and that you were working on strategy and it’s been a great camp. What would it mean to you to get the victory over Canelo in your home state of Texas?

J. Kirkland
Man, definitely something that I’ve been preparing for since the beginning of camp. I’m definitely already like you say on weight and taking care of business when it comes to the training part. But overall, I’m going to take care of business on May 9th. So, definitely I’m encouraged and I’m anxious, and it’s just something that is going to be something that I’m proving not just to myself and to the city but just to my fight fans that James Kirkland truly is a warrior and he deserves a world title shot.

Q
Hello. When you spoke with Dan originally and he asked you about your split from Ann Wolfe, you said that you thought that basically the things that she could work with you on you already had and was something that couldn’t be taken away from you. That being the case, would you say with your new trainers, are you working in a way that she couldn’t in sharpening your tools that you already have which are considerable, or are there new tools that you’re going to be bringing to this battle?

J. Kirkland
I want to kind of clear it up. I don’t want to take anything away from Ann Wolfe’s value. She was an awesome strength and conditioning coach, and she knows the things that she knows to take it to the next level. Certain things that I wanted to add to this particular training camp are the things that I added to this. There are things that I needed to improve and things that I wanted to work on that I felt that I wasn’t going to get from Ann Wolfe. So, those are the things that I worked on, those are the things that I have prepared myself for, these are the things that I took care of. So, at the end of the day, I believe that the tools and the things that I’ve been working on are going to take me to the finish line and give me the victory at the end of the day.

Q
Got it. So, would you say that those tools-would you say that they’re new? Are we going to see something different? Are we just going to see like a more upgraded view of you on the 9th?

J. Kirkland
There’s some more, I have a more strategized defense, exposure at the same time being able to move and adjust to certain things that you haven’t seen in Kirkland. The things that you seen me lack in from hands, so from anything that it may be when you see Kirkland lack on is the things you’re going to be able to see Kirkland advance and enhance his ability.

Operator
James, can you give your final comments?

J. Kirkland
Okay. Well, final comments, I just want to say that overall I appreciate Golden Boy, HBO, SMS Promotions. I definitely want to just thank everybody for the opportunity and the people that are sponsoring the fight from Leija* Battah to all the people that are actually in the sport that’s actually backing this fight up, and just having just the drive for the sport, I appreciate it. Thanks to the fans, and the upmost, I want to give thanks to God for the opportunity. Thank you, and I appreciate everybody.

Operator
Thank you, and Curtis Jackson, may we have your final comments?

C. Jackson
Again, you got a chance to hear James. We didn’t hear much from Canelo. We’re going to get him on in a little bit, but this is exciting, and neither one of them wants to be as disrespectful as they are in the training camp itself. The intensity is a lot higher and the statements and the things that are said while they’re disciplining themselves, but they going to get a chance to see it the night of May 9th. It’s going to be exciting, and so, everyone tune in if you can’t get to it, but come down to the stadium. Again, there’s tickets still available so you should rush down now and get them before they sell out.

Operator: Thank you, and now we’ll turn the call back over to Oscar De La Hoya.

O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much. We are now ready to introduce Team Canelo. His trainer and manager is on the call with us to say a few words. Let me introduce to you Chepo Reynoso.

Chepo Reynoso
Good afternoon, everybody. I hope everybody is well, and I’m just happy to be here taking care of any questions you may have.

O. De La Hoya
Chepo is ready and Canelo is ready. So, let’s move on to Canelo. Really a man who needs no introduction. His record speaks for itself. He has a record of 44 and 1 with 31 KOs out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. At the tender young age of 24 years old, he’s already faced some of the most avoided fighters on the planet today. Let me introduce to you Saul Canelo Alvarez. Saul?

Canelo Alvarez
Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here with you.

O. De La Hoya
Great. So, now we can open it up for questions. Thank you.

Q
Okay, great. First of all, I’d like you to ask Canelo, he’s coming back to another city in Texas in Houston when he was in San Antonio a couple years ago and he had that huge crowd for the Austin Trout fight. I want to know how pumped up is he because by all accounts, you’re going to have another crowd similar in size in a different city in Houston for this fight. How much does he feel that love from his fans, particularly the Mexicans and the Mexican-Americans and get him motivated, let’s say, for this kind of fight?

C. Alvarez
No, it motivates me tremendously. That’s what gives me that extra push to train harder, to have the support from the fans, all the love is what gives me the extra drive to train harder because it’s also a big responsibility and that’s where the discipline and the dedication takes in, to work hard.

Q
Another question I had for him, Robert, is he’s been off for a bit because of the injury to the foot so he did not fight in the fall after having a couple of fights in the earlier part of last year. I want to know how is his foot and does he feel that there’s any issue because he’s been off for quite a while at this point.

C. Alvarez
No, I feel real good. I’m healed up. I’ve been training for a while now. I’ve been here three and a half months working and training, preparing my body, preparing myself for this fight, looking forward to the fight. My body is clean and it gets in condition pretty quick, so I’m ready. I feel very well.

Q
Terrific. Another question for him also, and this is regarding the fact that there’s already a deal in place that should he win the fight May 9th and that should Miguel Cotto win his middleweight championship fight in June that they would meet each other in what would be a very big Pay-Per-View in the fall, and I’d like to know from Canelo does he view that in any way, some would say maybe by having that huge fight in front of him, it might be a distraction to what’s going to happen on May 9th, others would perhaps say it’s the motivation because they know they got to win to get to that huge fight. What are his thoughts about having this fight with Kirkland but knowing that he has the impending fight with Cotto down the road?

O. De La Hoya
This is Oscar. There is no deal done whatsoever.

Q
Oscar, you know that’s not true, my friend. Maybe you didn’t sign the paper, but we know that the deal is agreed to. Come on. It’s a reasonable question. Is Canelo going to answer that?

C. Alvarez:
At this particular time, my only opponent, my only focus, my only goal right now is James Kirkland. That’s who I’m focusing on. There’s been talks of that fight. There’s been talks of that fight with Cotto for a long time, yes, but right now, my focus is on James Kirkland. There’s nothing else.

Q
I had a quick question. I feel in the last few fights that you’ve had that you have the same style, you’ve approached them all the same way. Can we expect to see anything different coming into this Kirkland fight, or is there anything that you changed in this training camp that will showcase any of your other boxing skills?

C. Alvarez
You’re always learning in this game. You’re always going back to the gym and correcting some mistakes and learn from that and try new things. Sometimes the opponents aren’t willing to engage and participate, but it’s a part of the game to learn and we’re going to do our part and hope that the fans leave very happy.

Q
Okay, great. And then another question-when can we expect to see Canelo back in San Antonio?

C. Alvarez
At this time, I can’t answer that. I don’t know. It’s definitely like to go back. The people have always treated me well and loved me there. So, definitely we’d like to go back, but right now, I can’t tell you that because I don’t know.

Q: You had an opportunity to fight Kirkland back in 2011. Then, the fight didn’t happen. It’s been now a few years. Why even take the risk in giving Kirkland this opportunity after his inactivity, your inactivity and knowing that he’s such a big puncher?

C. Alvarez
Yes. It’s a fight that’s been talked about many years because it’s a very good fight. He’s one of the most dangerous fighters in the division, and there was an injury back there that didn’t let the fight happen, but now this is the fight that we’re at, and that’s why we’re preparing ourselves with knowing what we have in front of us and training really hard and we’re ready for the fight.

Q
You fought different styles, a difficult style in Mayweather, a standup aggressive style in Angulo, a runner like Lara, and now you’re facing one of the biggest punchers. What is the goal? You’re fighting all the different styles. You just want to fight them because you’re fighting the best or you’re fighting also to prepare for bigger fights down the road?

C. Alvarez
No, my goal is always to fight the best, the best in the world, that the fans get what they want: to see the best fights possible and independent of their styles. As long as they’re at the top, I want to fight the best.

Q
It’s finally done, the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight even if it’s a little old, we’re towards the end of their careers, but it’s finally happened, two of the bigger names in boxing. Once they’ve retired, are you ready to take on that role of the Pay-Per-View king, the Pay-Per-View star, and how do you feel about that?

C. Alvarez
I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever comes to my career. I work hard, I train hard, I fight the best, and if that’s the role that I have to take once they’re gone, then yes, I’m ready for it.

Q
You recuperated from the injury. You mentioned it earlier. What kind of strategy do you have now that you’re facing such a strong, aggressive fighter that comes forward and is a big puncher?

C.Alvarez
Yes, absolutely, recovered from the injury. That’s in the past, that’s behind me. Right now, we’re just working really hard. We know what James brings to the table. He’s a very dangerous, very strong and come-forward fighter, and that’s what we’re working for. That’s why we have the correct sparring partners working hard every day, working on strategy. We just have to be more intelligent and prepared and ready for it on fight night.

Q
The question is so many fighters are so concerned of only fighting in casinos. You seem to be getting out of that and fighting and filling arenas, what you did in San Antonio and now probably what you’re doing here in Houston filling that up as well. Do you want to continue that and maybe going on to even bigger stadiums and why not 50, 60, 70,000 people around the world?

C. Alvarez
No, I’ll fight anywhere. I’ll fight. As long as the fans go and enjoy the fights and walk out happy, I can fight anywhere. It doesn’t matter.

Q
There’s talks about a Miguel Cotto fight. There’s talks about other fights. Obviously, there’s the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight. If everything comes out well against Kirkland, in the future, you’re more mature, you’re more experienced, would you like a rematch with Mayweather if he is to beat Pacquiao?

C. Alvarez
Yes, of course, I would love it. It would interest me. I’ve learned more things, there’s more experience, but right now, this fight is what’s more important to me, and that’s James Kirkland on the 9th.

Q
You said that James Kirkland is a dangerous fighter. I wonder if you could describe James Kirkland as a fighter. What kind of style does he bring to the table?

C. Alvarez
Yes, he’s a very dangerous fighter because of his punch. His power is extreme. He can finish the fight with one punch, and then he also throws out of different angles, punches are coming from all angles, so it makes it even more complicated, more difficult, but more than anything, it’s that power that he can finish a fight with one punch.

Q
Have you fought anybody with comparable power to Kirkland? Have you fought anybody with that much power before?

C. Alvarez
At this particular moment, I can say no, but ask me the same question after the fight and then I can tell you how I feel his punches.

Q
Yes. Well, you’ve fought a lot of different styles. Do you prefer to fight a guy like Kirkland who you know where he’s going to be rather than Lara, Mayweather, guys like that?

C. Alvarez
Yes, I’ll fight any style. I’ll be clear-I’ll fight any style. I’m ready and willing to fight anybody, but the fans like this style because that’s the fans, what they go to see. They want to go see action, and these are the kind of fights that where the people will leave happy.

Q
Do you predict it’s going to end early before you think it’ll go the distance?

C. Alvarez
People are talking and the percentages are that it’s going to be a knockout, that it won’t make the distance, but I’m preparing myself for 12 rounds. I don’t like to predict or talk about a knockout. If it comes, great. If not, I’m trained and ready to go 12 hard rounds.

Q
Over the past few years, we’ve had boxing greats like Morales, Barrera, Marcos exit the sport, and the boxing world is looking for the next big Mexican superstar. Do you feel you’ve done enough to fill that void or that role, or do you need another victory to make that happen for you?

C. Alvarez
I’m working hard, I’m training hard. I’m taking the tough fights, the biggest fights, the biggest challenges. They people will put me where I belong. Of course, that’s what I’m here in the sport to be one of the biggest names and to be one of the greats, but only time will tell, and I’ll just keep doing my job.

Q
This last Saturday Chavez Jr. lost in the big fight. Does that give you an example or give you an idea about in the future moving up in weight?

C. Alvarez
No, I don’t use that as an example. I keep doing my job, my work dedicated with a lot of discipline, and I’ve never used anybody else’s examples. It’s just what I do, my work and my dedication.

Operator: Thank you. I’ll now turn it over to Team Canelo for your closing remarks.

C. Alvarez
I just want to thank all the press for all the support and all the media attention they’re giving it, giving my fight, giving our fight. I want to thank the fans for all the love and that I’m ready and I can’t wait to see them all on May 9th.

Operator: Thank you, and now I’ll turn the call back over to Oscar De La Hoya for his closing remarks.

O. De La Hoya: Thank you very much. Thank you to all the press, to both teams, and we will see you on May 9th in Houston. Gracias.

Operator: Thank you. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen. This concludes today’s conference. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.